Which term describes the starting point used in a metes-and-bounds property description?

• A. Mark
• B. Point of Beginning
• C. Datum
• D. Benchmark

Answer: (B)

In a metes-and-bounds property description, the starting point is called the Point of Beginning. This fixed reference point anchors the entire boundary description: from the Point of Beginning, the surveyor measures successive lines using distances (metes) and directions (bounds) and eventually returns to that same point, so the whole boundary is defined in relation to it. A datum is a vertical reference used for elevations, not the starting point of a boundary. A benchmark is an established point used for measuring elevations, also not the starting point of the boundary description. A mark is a generic marker and not the formal term for this purpose. Point of Beginning is the term that precisely describes the initial reference for the boundary.